Unusual exhibits in the Porsche Museum

New special exhibition “80 years of Porsche Engineering”

Stuttgart. In establishing his engineering office in Stuttgart in 1931, Ferdinand Porsche laid the foundations for the future success of what is today Porsche AG. The Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart museum is paying tribute to this milestone with a new special exhibition “80 years of Porsche Engineering”. From 21 June until 11 September, 2011 visitors will be able to experience the most important and exciting customer developments of the past eight decades. On display will be approximately 20 special exhibits ranging from the development of entire vehicles via engines and transmissions to remarkable industrial projects of the present day.

For example, among the exhibition pieces you will find one of the first Porsche developments that the Chemnitz-based car manufacturer Wanderer placed with the engineering office in 1931: the Wanderer W22, also known in-house at Porsche as the Type 7. This mid-size saloon features a six-cylinder alloy engine with 1.7 or two litre displacement that was also later to power the famous “Audio front”. Two years later Auto Union commissioned the design of a Grand Prix racing car, which is now one of the most legendary racing cars of all time. Driven by motor racing legends such as Hans Stuck and Bernd Rosemeyer the Auto Union “P racing car” achieved no fewer than 30 Grand Prix victories and 15 world records between 1934 and 1937. The “Opel Zafira” compact MPV as well, which Porsche designed in 1994 for Adam Opel AG, will enjoy equal billing with the Mercedes-Benz 500 E, which was in series production between 1990 and 1995 in Porsche’s very own Zuffenhausen plant.

The anniversary exhibition, the most comprehensive special event since the museum first opened, will also surprise the visitor with unusual Porsche know-how beyond the automotive arena. In addition to a Harley-Davidson “V-Rod”, the Porsche Museum will also be exhibiting the original racing sled that Porsche engineers designed together with professional sportsman Georg Hackl. It was with this model that Hackl, a professional sportsman, won the Olympic silver medal in 2002. The “Adventure” electric wheelchair with independent four-wheel spring suspension will also be on show, designed by Porsche in 2004 on behalf of Ulrich Alber GmbH.

In addition to the already familiar guided tour offering of the permanent exhibition, the Porsche museum also provides exclusive tours of the “80 years of Porsche Engineering” special exhibition. The visitor service can be reached on +49(0)711 911 20911 or via e-mail info.museum@porsche.de for enquiries about dates and bookings.

Next generation of inventors wanted

The Porsche museum is staging a creative competition for young boffins: Children up to the age of 12 are invited to follow in the footsteps of Ferdinand Porsche. The next generation of engineers has until August 22 to submit their own original ideas and inventions on anything and everything to do with the car. Materials as diverse as wood, plasticine, paper or polystyrene are allowed. This will culminate in the award of a prize for the most ingenious ideas. The handiwork can either be submitted in person at the Porsche museum information desk or sent by post under the heading “Next generation of inventors wanted”: Porsche museum, visitor service, Porscheplatz, 70435 Stuttgart.

The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Further information is available online at www.porsche.com/museum.